Wearing a white number 2 jersey, Vick took the field Wednesday afternoon on the South Side and participated in his first practice since signing a one-year contract Tuesday evening. He replaces Bruce Gradkowski, who hurt his hand in a preseason game and is out for the year.

After practice, Vick answered media questions and acknowledged the strong emotions that his presence evokes among fans who remember his involvement with a dogfighting ring in the late 2000s.

"Pretty much, the reaction in the beginning is kind of crazy in some regards -- not all the time and not everywhere," Vick said. "You've still got people who feel a certain type of way about what happened, but I think you've got to look at the right I'm trying to do. You can't take back what happened in the past. Everybody's different when they're 20 than when they're 35."

"As a professional, obviously I've got a great deal of respect for him, what he's capable of," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "I spent a lot of time in the NFC South against him when I was a secondary coach with the Bucs and he was the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, and a lot of sleepless nights, obviously, in preparation for those matchups."

Vick, 35, started three games for the New York Jets last season, including a 20-13 victory over the Steelers in Week 10. Overall, he threw for 604 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 games, while also rushing for 153 yards.

"There's not a throw on the field he can't make, from an arm-strength standpoint," Tomlin said. "He's a very experienced guy at what he does at this point in his career, and the mobility is still unique, even at 35."

Adding Vick to the roster does not come without controversy. Many fans still remember him for pleading guilty to his role in a dogfighting operation and serving time in federal prison from late 2007 to 2009. He has made a concerted effort to become an advocate for animals since then.

"I didn't really pay attention to what was going on publicly. I try to stay away from that, because all that does is make you develop mixed emotions about how you feel toward people," Vick said. "I don't want to be emotionally disturbed right now. I want to be in a great place."

"The best thing to do was try to make amends for what I did."

Tomlin said the organization was "sensitive" to the issues surrounding Vick, but he also said the franchise did its due diligence before deciding to sign the quarterback.

"Rest assured that he has done a lot since he's gone through some of the things that he's gone through, and I think his track record to this point in that regard speaks for itself," Tomlin said.

Roethlisberger, who has a foundation that helps provide K-9 officers for police departments, was asked about the Steelers' interest in Vick. He described the former No. 1 overall draft pick as a "freakish athlete" and said, "It's all about the team."

“For me, it’s about any way, any person, anything that can help this team, and if that’s Michael Vick, then so be it," Roethlisberger said.

Asked what he thinks of Vick, Roethlisberger responded, "I don’t really know him. He’s a great football player."

"In my mind, it was a very big mistake. I think you are bringing a bunch of unwanted attention here. I think it will be native press for us," said Tara. She didn't want Pittsburgh's Action News 4 to use her last name, citing threats she said were made to her after creating the Facebook group.

"I teach here, and I look at these children and see how they idolize our athletes, and I don’t want someone like him being elevated. I don't want that for our children," Tara said.

However, other fans supported the move to bring Vick to Pittsburgh.

“Good player, had his little issue, but I think he pretty much took care of it and paid his price and let’s move on,” said Bernie Casivich, of Uniontown.

"I'm a dog person. I'm a football person. Michael Vick redeemed himself," said Andrew Filipek, of Squirrel Hill. "He spent two years in jail. He did his time. It’s time to move on.

“I can’t wait to see him in black and gold."

Dan Rossi, director of the Animal Rescue League, essentially said the opposite.

“We get animals in from dogfighting cases all the time, and we work to rehabilitate them, and until you look in an animal's eyes that had been abused, you don’t get what we get here," Rossi said.

Describing himself as a lifelong Steelers fan, Rossi expressed disappointment about the team's signing of Vick.

"I will stop going to games, I will stop buying Steelers merchandise as long as he's on that team," he said.

Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward acknowledged Vick's troubles but said that it was six years ago and he's trying to look past it.

"Obviously he’s had some incidents in the past, but I like to think he’s moved on from that and try to be a better citizen. You know, I think we should all learn to do that," Heyward said.